Objective:
The objective of this research is to develop nutritional, thermal, and lighting strategies to improve production efficiency of broilers grown to heavy market weights. The four individual objectives are: characterize production efficiency and meat yield of heavy broiler chickens fed low energy diets; develop precision feeding strategies with an emphasis on DDG/S for heavy broiler chickens to optimize nutrient and energy utilization for production efficiency; determine the effects of apparent environmental temperature on production efficiency and physiological responses of heavy broiler chickens; and evaluate production efficiency and physiological responses of heavy broiler chickens as a function of light intensity.

Approach:
This project utilizes a systems approach to address current knowledge gaps associated with nutritional, temperature, and lighting needs of broilers grown to heavy weights. Four research areas are planned to address these concerns. First, baseline knowledge of feeding heavy broilers low energy diets using corn soybean meal based diets will be assessed. This will be followed by evaluation of the inclusion of co products from ethanol and biofuel production in diets formulated to low energy; second, a diet formulation model will be developed to minimize poor broiler performance associated with nutrient variability when co products from ethanol production are included in the diet; third, factors influencing the thermal environment of heavy broiler chickens will be evaluated; fourth, production efficiency of broiler chickens subjected to low light intensity grown to heavy weights will be assessed. This research will provide the broiler industry with scientific information to make dietary and management decisions needed to improve production efficiency of broilers grown to heavy weights.